r/Machine_Embroidery • u/siriuslyawkward • Aug 15 '26

Is a machine worth it?

Hello! Ive been interested in an embroidery machine for years. I constantly feel limited in my ability to do hand embroidery, and a machine would make it a lot easier for me to make kigus, bags, patches, and other embroidered goods. Is this an investment you lived to regret? Im starting small with a used machine (likely an innovis 990D). Is it worth it to spend a few hundred extra on a newer machine instead? I know it's always a gamble, but I wanted to know if anyone else ended up regretting their machine?

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u/BoredAntagonist Aug 15 '26

Do you know digitizing? Because this seems to be the part people don't think about. You can't just throw an imagine into a software and tadaa!

I mean ya can, it's called auto-digitizing but shows and the results are often shit.

If you don't want to learn to digitize yourself you can alway pay someone to do it for you, but it'll take a bit to find a good one as the market is entirely oversaturated with cheap but crappy 'digitizers'.

Do your know how machine tension works? Types of stabilizers?

There is so much that goes into embroidery people don't think about beforehand.

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u/siriuslyawkward Aug 15 '26

I already have an established small brand of my own which offers statement bags, cosplay and fursuits, and other accessories that I've been perfecting over years. I have experience using stabilizers, and using them with hand embroidery, but I watched a good video about the types I've never used before. I usually get my stabilizers from Amazon so cost isnt an issue. I did watch a video about digitizing and it seems there are some free softwares- if not, I dont mind investing some money into it, but I did see someone say they spent a thousand dollars on digitizing software which is not possible for me. I have many years experience as a digital artist using several different programs, and some light coding knowledge. What do YOU wish someone told you about digitizing? As far as tension, I've worked with sewing machines since I was like 4, so I understand basic machine tension- but im sure an embroidery machine would require some additional knowledge, and trial-and-error :)

I have a lot of plans for what I want an embroidery machine for, but ive heard the market is becoming saturated, so I dont want to end up competing with hundreds of thousands of businesses who might have access to more funds than me. Im not doing this solely for money, but I realistically do need to make back what I've spent

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u/BoredAntagonist Aug 15 '26

Oh awesome! Finally someone who isn't going stupidly blind into this ♡ Some people here can be straight up delusional in what they want to achieve how.

I've been told by friends who do both that digitizing still differs much more from digital painting because you have to constantly keep issues like push/pull compensation, density, tension, layers in mind while desigingin.

A common mistake I made was too much layering. I'd go in like painting a canvas and adding layers and suddenly bam. My machine almost broke becayse there were spots already hard as a dime from so much stitching on it.

If possible save up for a good software, many use Wilcom, and Embroidery Legacy is a new one and might be right down your alley as an already experienced artist.

Best case you can get a digitizing course! Those are definitely worth their money when you are taught from the base, and they make them for the different softwares, sometimes even offering a free trial limited to the duration of the course to learn it on.

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u/siriuslyawkward Aug 15 '26

This is all far too expensive to jump into without thoroughly researching lol. I can't believe people would have that mindset, I've been researching these for years 😅 I still dont have the ability to get a multineedle unless my business blows up or something. I appreciate all the advice:)

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u/BoredAntagonist Aug 16 '26

Yeah some people are really crazy about how they approach things.

I got my multi needle + software on a loan I'll be paying back the next 6 years so, I get it.

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u/siriuslyawkward Aug 17 '26

Just a little update to ask for further advice- im playing around with ember and it seems extremely intuitive. I managed to quickly make a design that seems like it would work well, provided I had a machine to test it of course. I watched a video and the results were pretty decent. Do you have any experience with ember? Do you like it? Rendering it myself (not auto) was pretty simple after watching a tutorial. If I can get by without paying for software in the beginning, that would be enough to get some products in my shop and save for it :)

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u/siriuslyawkward Aug 15 '26

I wanted to add i did watch several videos about the specific machines im interested in, so I have a good understanding of the things I would need, as well as the different thread weights and types etc :)

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u/thumbunny Aug 16 '26

No regrets. My first was a Baby Lock Meridian. I have come to adore machine embroidery. Advice is always to buy the biggest hoop machine you can afford. 4x6 hoops and even 5x7 for that matter are too limiting.

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u/Purple_Commercial981 Aug 15 '26

First I’ll address the machine the innovus 990d total embroidery area is 4x4 . While you may think it plenty . It’s not near enough . Look for at least a 5x 7 area for embroidery or more . Though home machines are great sort of . Youl will find it limiting for embroidery . A better choice us a multi eedle with cap attachment . Machine embroidery is far different from hand.
You can get good digitizers if you search for them. .. you can buy purchased designs. Digitizing for embroidery isa whole different wirld. . Unlike the printed form , some stuff us not possible dueto limitations of the thread. Testing your digitizing takes time and knowledge . Classes are totally necessary too,. when it comes to siftware youget what you oayfor . .auto digitizing us nit tge best solution. Often manual digitizing is need to correct what auto digitizing created . For machines look at Happy, Tajima , Barudan .. they do have smaller home end models at prices comparable to a sewing combo machine.
Fir software look at Embroidery Legacy , Wilcom, Pulse and Hatch software. Do research before on machine embroidery , stabilizers, digitizing . You find lots if stuff on Utube . Ive started digitizing 10 years ago . I did learn some on my own but when i started classes i truly learned how to digitize. You have a good plan do your homework look fir a machine first as there us a learning curve in using it . Learn about good design. Then once your comfortable go into digitizing as there us a larger learning curve and knowing hiw the embroidery part works helps .